This abstract was presented as the Public Health Nutrition Theme Highlight
Picky eating is characterised by an unwillingness to eat familiar foods or to try new foods, as well as strong food preferences.( Reference Taylor, Wernimont and Northstone 1 , Reference Dovey, Staples and Gibson 2 ) The peak age for prevalence is during preschool years.( Reference Taylor, Wernimont and Northstone 1 ) While picky eating may result in alterations in the intake of energy( Reference van der Horst, Deming and Lesniauskas 3 ) and some micronutrients( Reference Taylor, Northstone and Wernimont 4 , Reference Galloway, Fiorito and Lee 5 ) at around this age, there are very few studies of longer term dietary outcomes associated with picky eating identified in preschool years. The aim of the present study was to characterise the diets of children aged 3·5, 10 and 13 years who had been identified as picky eaters at age 3 years and compare them with the diets of non-picky children. Differences in food group and nutrient intakes between the picky eating groups were compared across the three ages.
Picky eaters were identified in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) database from a questionnaire item (Does your child have definite likes and dislikes as far as food is concerned? No/Yes, quite choosy/Yes, very choosy) completed by the caregiver when the child was 3 years old. Dietary intake was assessed at age 3·5 years with 3-day food records completed by the caregiver. This was repeated at age 10 and 13 years with completion by the child with parental help. The food records were coded and analysed as described by Emmett et al.( Reference Emmett, Rogers and Symes 6 )
As previously reported, at age 3·5 years, children who were picky eaters had lower intakes of meat, fruit and vegetables than those who were not picky eaters (Table 1). This was reflected in differences in protein, carotene, selenium, iron, zinc and dietary fibre intake between the two groups.( Reference Taylor, Northstone and Wernimont 4 ) There were similar differences to those at age 3·5 years in food group intakes at 10 and 13 years of age, in particular lower intakes of meat and vegetables in picky children than in children who were not picky. At 13 years old there were differences in vegetable (23 % lower in picky children), fruit (14 % lower) and total meat (8 % lower) intakes (Table 1).
Table 1. Food group intakes (g/day) assessed by food records at 3·5, 10 and 13 years by picky eating score assessed by questionnaire at 3 years
Values are mean (95 % confidence interval).
aData at age 3·5 years previously reported.( Reference Taylor, Northstone and Wernimont 4 )
bFoods included carcass meat from lamb, pork, beef, poultry, liver and kidney.
cFoods included sausages, ham, bacon, burgers, meat pies, breaded poultry, salami, etc.
dMilks included whole, semi-skimmed, skimmed cows' milk, other animal milks, soya milk, human milk, formula and cream.
Value at same age significantly different from that of children who were not picky eaters, *p < 0·05.
At age 10 years there was evidence of similar differences in nutrient intakes to those identified at age 3·5 years, but these differences were generally less evident at age 13 years except for higher free sugars and lower zinc and dietary fibre intakes.
The differences in food and food group intakes, and in nutrient intakes evident at 3·5 years between children who were picky eaters or not at age 3 years showed evidence of persisting into adolescence particularly for vegetable, fruit and meat intakes. More effective strategies focused on helping parents to widen the food choices of their children at an early age need to be developed. These strategies should focus particularly on vegetable and fruit intake.
This work was funded by Nestlé Nutrition.
